Janice Marie Flett was born on Sept. 14,1937 in Kimball, Nebraska, bringing much joy to her parents, David and Marie Flett. Jan later spent most of her childhood in her beloved, forever hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming, with her mother, doctor father, and younger siblings, Judy and Dave. She had a horse in those early years and enjoyed participating in Cheyenne Frontier Days and hanging out with her good friends, many of whom she kept in touch with throughout her life. Jan graduated from Cheyenne High School and later from Colorado State University, where she was a Kappa Kappa Gamma, and where she met her future husband, a charismatic cheesehead, Robert Rasmussen, formerly of Waupun, Wisconsin.
She and Bob had five children, a boy followed by four girls. They had many moves as a military (Marines) family, which took them from Virginia, to California, to Texas … and eventually back to Fort Collins in the 1970’s, where Bob went to work at CSU.
While in Fort Collins their two oldest children, Bill and Anne-Marie, graduated from high school.
In the early ‘80s, the family moved from Fort Collins to Rapid City, South Dakota where their other three children, Christy, Carrie, and Julie, finished school.
Jan logged a million mom miles over decades, supporting her five children as a swim/basketball/softball mom, cheerleading mom, and band/flag mom, especially. She spent countless years at sub-zero high school football games solely because she loved to watch the marching bands perform at half-time. In addition, she also rocked the role of Girl Scout cookie boss, the tooth fairy, stuffed-animal-surgeon, I’m-dragging-you-to-church mom, surprisingly-calm-driving-instructor mom, tater-tot-casserole-maker, prom-dress-seamstress … and finally, in her later years of parenting the much deserved I-am-going-to-look-the-other-way-now mom. ;)
She patiently rolled with the perpetual chaos that five children, an endless stream of dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, a duck, visiting neighbor kids, and some occasional live-in relatives created; only ever issuing a complaint if you used her “good” scissors or interrupted her during ‘Days of Our Lives.’
Among Jan’s life-long passions were classic movies, live theater, music, PBS, and sports. Among her many skills, she could resourcefully scrounge up enough ticket money to take her kids to Beach Boys concerts, Denver Bears games, and Broadway shows passing through town. She cultured her children on Hitchcock movies, MGM musicals, history documentaries, Frank Sinatra, and baseball … a tradition that continues to still be appreciated, and handed down, through current generations. Right up to her passing, she found blissful comfort in closing her eyes and listening to CSU football, Rockies baseball, Antiques Roadshow, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
And then there was the sewing. The lady could sew. The fabric store was her paradise and she was its queen. She was a master seamstress, and many folk who are reading this likely had something handmade by her at one time. She left a legacy of unmatched sewing perfection that will be lovingly preserved by a multitude of family and friends in old school photos, costume photos, prom photos, graduation photos, and wedding albums.
Among Jan’s other fun life tid-bits: She met, and had a photo taken with, Eleanor Roosevelt while at CSU. She had a knack for winning contests her whole life. She had Broncos season tickets in the rowdy south stands of Mile High stadium for years. She was a lifelong member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She had a great eye for decor, a green thumb, and was well-versed in botany. She owned one of the first VCRs on the market and considered herself a gourmet microwaver.
And she loved old Ford Mustangs. There was at least one in the driveway for decades. She left her grateful children with bragging rights that many of our first cars were classic ‘60s Mustangs.
The middle years of her life were spent back in Cheyenne, enjoying activities with her mother and family there. Her later years were happily spent living close to/with her children and her two cats whom she loved, Herman and Cowboy Joe, in Loveland, Colorado.
Upon her passing she will be reuniting with her parents, David and Marie, her former husband Bob, two grandchildren, her brother-in-law Dr. Dan Hinkle, sister-and-brother-in-law Gail and Larry Pardi, and her best friend/sister-in-law Nancy Rasmussen.
Jan is survived by her siblings, whom she loved very much: Judy Hinkle of Cheyenne and Dave Flett (Judi Flett) of Las Cruces, NM. And by her children: Bill Rasmussen, Anne-Marie Brunton, Christine Rasmussen, Carrie Goode (Monte Goode), and Julie Rasmussen (Scott Shirk), as well as former daughter-in-law Jill Morgan, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren, the youngest of whom was born the same week that Janice passed.
Jan was a boots, jeans, and cowboy loving westerner to the core of her soul, so per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered by her immediate family under a blue sky, on a warm day, across the open, golden plains of Wyoming … hopefully with horses somewhere nearby.
The family would like to thank Pathways Hospice for their thoughtful assistance the past few months. They would also like to thank her primary care physician, Dr. Pepper, for always keeping her happy. :)
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to your local animal Shelter in Janice (and Herman and Cowboy Joe’s) names. She would love that.
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